Comments on: I Told You Tony Stewart Wouldn’t Suck As An Owner

By: Don

Don — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:43:30 +0000

Let me try to help Steve with some answers. Why would Rick Hendrick want to support Stewart or any other organization?

1. Making and selling top notch cars and engines is a business for Hendrick. If what he was selling was second rate teams like Stewart would not want to buy them.

2. His name is on that equipment he does not want his name associated with second rate equipment. Also there is incredible pride when something you made succeeds.

3. Winning is great, but it is even better when you beat someone that is good in top notch equipment.

4. Stewart Haas can provide information back to Hendrick which helps his organization. (Not to mention machine tools from Haas Automation and wind tunnel time at Haas’s wind tunnel.)

5. He’s a racer. For every racer that is secretive there is several more that will do anything to help another racer. This I know from personal experience. It’s a lot more fun to beat people who brought their A Game than a bunch of start and parker’s.

6. Stewart was someone he had to contend with anyway. Now at least if he wins he wins in Hendrick equipment.

Hope this helps,

Don

By: Neon

Neon — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:05:40 +0000

Steve-Quick answer is cash flow. Rick can sell services and technology subsidizing the cost to run his teams all the while keeping his people working. Also adds another couple of teams to the Chevy camp.

By: J.J.

J.J. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:16:11 +0000

Well, it aint free, right? If your shop is in the business of making winning engines and you can sell a few more, you do it. Hendrick gets more profit from the same engine facility, Tony gets quality builds at a good price.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:36:41 +0000

It’s sort off point, but can someone explain why Hendrick wants to support Stewart? or why any big multi-car team wants to support another operation? It seems to me as if Hendrick gives more than he could get in return and Stewart being a contender has to reduce the odds of a Hendrick driver making the chase. Thanks in advance for the answers.

By: Neon

Neon — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:21:03 +0000

As much as I respect Stewart’s talents on track, I too feared he would struggle w/ being an owner/driver. Looks like there are a lot of good pieces and alliances in place. Even though I don’t care one bit for the COT, this seems to have really helped a lot of teams find there footing early, especially w/ the teating ban to consider.

By: MR.ED

MR.ED — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:08:26 +0000

I have a question is hendrick or any deal like this giving the best or almost the best.Most satilite type teams seam to run good but not win like there suppliers or top tiers teams or i’m just over thinking oh thats scary

By: cb

cb — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:18:03 +0000

maybe i was wearing rose colored glasses but i never had a doubt that Tony would be hot right out of the box…he said all along that he wouldn’t do this if he didn’t think he could be competitive. and he learned great lessons over at JGR. yep i smell victory in the not to distant future!!

By: Barry from Tennessee

Barry from Tennessee — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:05:57 +0000

Having the pleasure know Tony and his family for years, I can honestly say that I’m not that surprised he is doing this well with the new team. He has proven over the years that he is one of the most talented drivers of all time.

But what I think most people didn’t know is that Tony is also one of the smartest guys to ever drive a race car and has incredible business savvy.

Talent+Smarts+Opportunity=Success

By: Joe W.

Joe W. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:03:05 +0000

I really never understood why people thought Tony Stewart would struggle. The parts were there for Haas. They just needed the right people. Tony is doing exactly what I expected he would. He is one of the best drivers in all motorsports and he is proving he is a pretty smart businessman too.

By: Zieke

Zieke — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:01:53 +0000

Right on the Gibbs post. Tony learned alot from him and has said so many times. Other than his distaste for stupid media questions, Tony is one of the most caring drivers in NASCAR. I hope he wins more championships and a boatload of races. He deserves it.